Rue Bennett, played by Zendaya, is one of the main characters of HBO’s Euphoria. In her childhood, she was diagnosed with ADD, OCD, general anxiety disorder, and possibly bipolar disorder.

Rue with a disheveled look, sits up looking at something out of frame. There is a light behind her.
Image HBO

When she was 11, an anxiety attack caused her to be taken to a hospital, where she was given Valium to calm her down. This was the first time she had “felt safe in her own head”. After her father is diagnosed with cancer and is in the final stages of life, Rue takes his prescription medication to cope, leading to addiction and eventual overdose.

In and out of rehab, Rue had no intention to stay clean, that is until Jules, a mysterious girl comes into town. Rue goes on to fall in love with her, which leads to her trying to stay clean, for Jules.

Rue and Jules laying on the ground at their school talking together.
Image HBO

Though Rue never states her sexuality, we are told of sexual encounters with boys and shown encounters with girls. She tried to teach her best friend Lexi how to french kiss, afterward Lexi asked if she felt “weird” or “uncomfortable”, Rue replied with no. But Rue has a very complicated relationship with her sexuality and has struggled with compulsory heterosexuality.